First rate optics and mechanics in a beautiful tube. The views of Jupiter or Saturn through this will make you swear it's a much bigger apo. I've seen ten bands on Jupiter and the GRS is easy, while Casini and ring structure pop out of the eyepiece on Saturn when the seeing is good. It takes incredible magnification -- over 250X-- REALLY. Of course, this scope is of limited utility for deep sky work, but the excellent contrast helps the brighter Messier objects look really nice. This is the best quick-peek scope when you don't want to drag out the dob or SCT or even the 4" apo. It weighs like three pounds and mounts on any photo/video tripod. This is the scope department store refractors want to be reborn as in their next reincarnation.